On March 25, the 11th Workshop of the Coordination Platform for Sustainable Management of RA Natural Fodder Areas was held in Yerevan, initiated by the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO. The event brought together Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia Tatevik Sargsyan, representatives from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Environment, regional administrations of Shirak, Syunik, and Gegharkunik, as well as representatives of local and international NGOs.

In his opening remarks, Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Chairman of SDA NGO, emphasized the platform’s role as a vital link among organizations working in sustainable pasture management. He highlighted its importance in identifying sectoral challenges and fostering discussions on solutions.

Deputy Minister of Economy Tatevik Sargsyan underscored that Armenia’s pastures and grasslands span over one million hectares. She reaffirmed the government’s and the Ministry of Economy’s commitment to supporting initiatives in this field. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of studying global best practices in natural pasture management and incorporating the most effective approaches into Armenia’s legislative and regulatory framework.

Vahe Hovhannisyan, head of the “Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project, presented the SDA NGO’s achievements and ongoing initiatives in livestock development, pasture sustainability, and improvement efforts. Key results include:

• Implementation of effective pasture management practices in 189 rural communities
• Construction of 221 water tanks and 70 feeding stations for livestock farms
• Restoration of 216.5 hectares of overgrazed (degraded) pastures
• Diversification of fodder crop cultivation, including alfalfa, corn, and fodder beet

The workshop also featured discussions on projects led by other Platform member organizations focused on sustainable pasture management and improvement.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the World Wide Fund for Nature Armenia (WWF Armenia) officially joined the Platform, signing a memorandum of membership.

Since its establishment in 2018, the Coordination Platform for Sustainable Management of RA Natural Fodder Areas has grown to include over 20 organizations, comprising local and international NGOs, government agencies, and development programs.

Within the framework of the Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia (LILA) project, a training on Customer Service was held in Yerevan on March 19 for representatives of beneficiary hotels and guesthouses.

The training was led by Mkrtich Grigoryan, General Manager of Ani Grand Hotel, who introduced participants to essential hospitality service standards, systematic approaches to service provision and management, reception operations control mechanisms, and the principles of hospitality ethics. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining proper sanitary and hygiene conditions.

Participants actively engaged in discussions, raising questions about food and beverage department oversight, handling challenging situations, and effectively selling their services and products.

In the afternoon, attendees toured Ani Grand Hotel, gaining firsthand insight into its departments, management structure, and best practices for maintaining high service quality and hygiene standards.

The Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia LILA is a conservation and sustainable tourism development project, which is implemented by the World Wide Fund for Nature Armenian office (WWF Armenia) and the Strategic Development Agency NGO (SDA). The project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).